A package for cosmetics articles

Abstract: A package for cosmetics articles (1) adapted for automated industrial handling comprises a roll- and/or fold-up strip (20) which has, on one side thereof, a plurality of pockets (9) adapted to receive said cosmetics articles (11) in a sanitarily efficient way.

Description: This invention relates to a package for cosmetics articles. In particular, the invention concerns a package for storing and transporting cosmetics articles which is intended for interim use between the manufacturing and the final packaging stages of such articles. It is known that cosmetics articles, such as mascara containers, boxes for powders, lipsticks, nail varnish bottles, cream pots, etc., should be entirely free of surface defects that could mar the product appearance, an important factor in determining the consumer's decision to buy. In addition, cosmetics articles include such parts as brushes or applicators which are to come in contact, during their normal use, with the lips, eyes, and in general with delicate areas of the human body. Hence the need to keep them protected from contaminants of any chemical or biological nature. Also known is that such articles are usually mass produced using automated manufacturing procedures of an industrial character. After production, the articles must be filled with appropriate cosmetic substances prior to their final packaging for retail sale. In this respect, the articles are packed for transport to filling and final packaging facilities from their production site. It is necessary, therefore, that while in transit and temporary storage, where provided, the cosmetics articles be protected against shock, abrasion, scratching, staining and' the like damage, as well as from contact with the aforesaid contaminants, using a suitable package for cosmetics articles. Packages of the type specified above have been known. For instance, cosmetics articles have been laid manually onto flat sheets which keep several layers of articles separated inside a box. However, this packaging procedure is expensive, because applied manually, and keeps personnel engaged in an unrewarding task. In addition, the packaging is unsound from the sanitary standpoint on account of the physical contact with the cosmetics articles that it involves. A package for cosmetics articles has also been known wherein boards of a thermoformed plastics material are used which have receptacles sized to receive one cosmetics article each. Such boards are then enclosed within plastics bags and placed into cartons. Here again, the packaging is done manually, and accordingly, cost-intensive and sanitarily deficient. FR-A- 2 324 422 discloses a package for hand tools consisting of two superposed films fixed together by welding to form a plurality of pockets open at one of their ends and arranged transversely of said films. FR-A- 2 206 062 discloses a package for hand tools consisting of two films of a transparent synthetic material fixed together by parallel, transversal and optional oblique seam lines to form a plurality of pockets having different size and arranged transversely of said films. US-A- 3 749 233 discloses a container for receiving and holding in spaced, parallel relationship a plurality of hand tools comprising an opaque, flexible, sheet-like base member and a plurality of parallel, transparent, flexible holding elements secured along three edges thereof to one surface of said base member to form a plurality of parallel and transversely arranged pockets having suitable sizes and shapes to accomodate assorted hand tools of corresponding sizes and shapes. The underlying technical problem of this invention is to provide a package for cosmetics articles which can overcome the shortcomings mentioned above in connection with the prior art. This problem is solved by a package as indicated comprising a roll-and/or fold-up strip which has, on one side thereof a plurality of pockets, adapted to receive said cosmetics articles, said pockets being arranged transversely of said strip, wherein the strip consists of a web of undefined length folded over lengthwise along a fold line parallel to the edges of the web and dividing the web into two overlaid half-webs; said overlaid half-webs being welded along parallel and equidistant seam lines which extend between the fold line and the edge of the folded-over half-web. A major advantage of a package for cosmetics articles according to this invention is that the need to handle said articles manually is eliminated and that the packaging procedure can be automated to ensure sanitary conditions and lower costs. Further features and advantages of a package for cosmetics articles according to the invention will become apparent from the description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given herein below by way of example and not of limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package for cosmetics articles according to the invention as spread out flat; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the package in Figure 1 as used in roll form; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the package in Figure 1 as used in packet form; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a box containing a few rolls of the package shown in Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a box containing a few packets of the package in Figure 1. In the drawings, a package as specified above is shown at 1. It comprises a strip 20 consisting of a web 2 of undefined length which is folded over lengthwise along a fold line 3 dividing the web 2 into two overlaid half-webs 4, 5 bounded by edges 6, 7, respectively, of the web 2. Said fold line 3 is parallel with the edges 6, 7 of the web 2 and positioned such that the edges 6 e 7 of the web 2 do not overlap and the edge 6 locates approximately halfway between the other edge 7 and the fold line 3. The web 2 is made of a material which makes the strip 20 easy to roll and/or fold up; preferably the web 2 is made of a plastics material such as polyethylene. The half-web 4 is welded to the half-web 5 along seam lines 8 which extend between the fold line 3 and the edge 6, being all parallel with one another and spaced a predetermined distance apart, so that the strip 20 has a plurality of pockets 9 across one side 21 thereof. Thus, each pocket 9 is bounded by two seam lines 8 and the fold line 3, and has an opening 10. Further, the pockets 9 are arranged transversely of the strip 20. Said pockets 9 are intended to receive a cosmetics article 11, for instance a cap for a mascara container with an incorporated brush applicator, as shown in the drawings. Additionally to the aforementioned advantage, the package 1 for cosmetics articles according to the invention is a particularly simple, low-cost construction from readily available materials which can be easily recycled. Furthermore, the shape of the pockets 9 is such that the same strip 20 can be used for cosmetics articles 11 having different shapes but comparable sizes. In addition, the cosmetics articles 11 can be easily removed, since in this embodiment, they would jut out from the pockets 9 through the opening 10. Also, by having the strip 20 rollable and foldable, the strip 20 can be provided in either roll 12 (Figure 2) or pleated packet 13 (Figure 3) forms. The roll 12 and packet 13 tightly rolled or folded configurations ensure that the articles will be held captive within the pockets 9. Both the roll 12 and the packet 13 may be any size, and lends themselves in particular for use on automated packaging, unpackaging, filling and wrapping equipment. In particular, the automatic filling of such articles as bottles, pots, cream tubes, or the like can be carried out without drawing the article 11 out of the pocket 9. The roll 12 and packet 13 can be conveniently stored in boxes 14 which can accommodate several overlaid rolls 12 and/or packets as advantageously separated by sheets 15. Unlike conventional packages wherein the separating sheets for the cosmetics articles serve a protective function, and are therefore made of foamed rubber or the like, the sheets 15 may be of plain cardboard. Many modifications may be made unto the invention described. For example, the edge 6 may be positioned other than as described above. In particular, to enhance the protection afforded by the package to the cosmetics articles 11, the edge 6 may be arranged to overlap the edge 7 of the web 2. In addition, the opening 10 of the pockets 9 may be provided with a closure arrangement, such as a strip of contact adhesive laid along the edge 6 on the pocket 9 inside. Also for protection and closure purposes, that portion of the web 2 which extends between the edge 7 and the location of the edge 6 may advantageously be folded over as far as the size of the cosmetics article 11 contained in the pocket 9 will permit. Many more changes unto the package for cosmetics articles according to the invention may be made by a skilled person in the art to fill particular and contigent demands within the protection scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims: A package (1) for cosmetics articles (11) comprising a roll-and/or fold-up strip (20) which has, on one side (21) thereof, a plurality of pockets (9) adapted to receive said cosmetics articles (11), said pockets (9) being arranged transversely of said strip (20), characterized in that the strip (20) consists of a web (2) of undefined length folded over lengthwise along a fold line (3) parallel to the edges (6,7) of the web (2) and dividing the web (2) into two overlaid half-webs (4,5); said overlaid half-webs (4,5) being welded along parallel and equidistant seam lines (8) which extend between the fold line (3) and the edge (6) of the folded-over half-web (4). The package (1) according to claim 1, wherein the edges (6,7) of the web (2) do not overlap. The package (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one edge (6) of the web (2) is located halfway between the other edge (7) and the fold line (3). The package (1) according to claim 1, wherein the edges (6,7) of the web (2) overlap. The package (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein each pocket (9) is bounded by two seam lines (8) and the fold line (3), and is provided with an opening (10). The package (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the opening (10) of each pocket (9) is provided with closure means. The use of the package (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims for storing and transporting cosmetics articles during the stages between the manufacturing and the final packaging.-

Inventors: BOTTO PAOLO, JUGUET OLIVIER, BOTTO, PAOLO, JUGUET, OLIVIER
Applicants: BENSON S R L, BENSON S.R.L.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B65D75
IPC codes: B65D75, B65D73, A45C7, A45C11